May. 19, 2017, 1:54 p.m.

If you want to know about the Preakness, especially if you want to know how to win the race, there’s only one person to ask.

And there he was sitting by himself early Friday morning in a plastic chair on the shedrow of the stakes barn at Pimlico Race Course. The familiar cowboy hat was perched atop his head. Sunglasses adorned his face. He wasn’t doing much, just waiting to instill wisdom on whoever wanted it.

Wayne Lukas — only those who don’t really know horse racing use the “D” before his name — ambled over to the fence and proclaimed morning-line favorite and Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming as his top choice in Saturday’s running of the 142nd Preakness Stakes.

May. 6, 2017, 4:50 p.m.

John Velazquez rides Always Dreaming down the home stretch as an infield video board shows his margin of lead in the 143rd Running of the Roses. To see more photos, click on the image above. (Morry Gash / Associated Press)

May. 6, 2017, 4:11 p.m.

Jockey John Velazquez celebrates as he guides Always Dreaming across the finish line to win the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday at Churchill Downs. (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)

If there was a consensus, although not a very strong one, for the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby, one of four horses would win Saturday’s race: Always Dreaming, Classic Empire, Irish War Cry and McCraken.

Well, maybe this sport does follow form.

Always Dreaming was able to navigate the 1 1/4 miles of the world’s most famous race to receive the blanket of roses.